The Frontline Club has launched the Frontline Freelance Register, a body that aims to represent freelance journalists who put themselves at risk to report on conflicts.

The FFR's core objective is to support the physical and mental well-being of freelancers in a media environment where staff jobs and fully-funded foreign assignments are increasingly scarce.

It means that the bulk of foreign and war reporting is now dominated by freelance journalists

However, most freelancers lack the kind of institutional support and financial security enjoyed by staff journalists on newspapers, TV and radio stations.

They also lack the kind of organised representation necessary to deal with powerful media groups. So FFR has been founded in order to provide a forum to help freelancers

According to its mission statement, the FFR "aims to ensure its members observe responsible news gathering standards consistent with industry-established safety standards." It continues:

"During the six months following its launch, the FFR aims to build a community of independent journalists, establishing a voice for them by working with journalist support organisations, industry figures and those with an interest in safety and security to support its members and champion safety and professional practice."

The FFR has received financial and logistical support from the Frontline Club. Its initial governing committee is comprised of journalist and filmmaker Aris Roussinos, photojournalist Ayman Oghanna, award-winning writer Balint Szlanko, TV and radio broadcaster Emma Beals, Australian photojournalist Ed Giles, and Vaughan Smith, the Frontline Club's founder.

The committee's primary task is to ensure the integrity of the register, which was launched jointly today in London and Istanbul. A further launch will take place later this month in New York.

One of the key documents informing the work of the FFR is the Freelance Safety Initiative white paper (here in pdf format). Spearheaded by Vaughan Smith and chaired by Richard Sambrook, the initiative was launched last year.

Its report into news safety considers how news organisations and journalists working in conflict areas might further improve their safety, with a particular emphasis on the well-being of freelance contributors.

The paper offers practical advice to improve the welfare of freelancers and provides solid recommendations in the following areas: duty of care, digital security, training and insurance.